Abstract
Xanthoma and xanthelasma are typical symptoms of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism impairment. On the basis of their incidence and morphology, it is even possible to specify the impairment type.
Hypercholesterolemia or certain liver dysfunctions are characterized by slow development of surface xanthelasmas usually located on mechanically stresed regions. It is very important not to focus on symptoms, i.e. xanthoma or xanthelasma, but fully compensate lipid metabolism impairment or the disease that underlies hyperlipoproteinemia (e.g. type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome).